Jazz88

Davina and the Vagabonds, based in Minneapolis, is one of the midwest’s best known touring bands. The group plays the Dakota in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday night with shows at 7 and 9. Over the years, Davina has evolved ideas about putting together a setlist. She shared with Phil Nusbaum why she often uses Start Running as an opener.

Annie Humphrey is an Ojibway songwriter from Leech Lake who balances social activism with entertainment. When Annie talked with Phil Nusbaum about the combination, she said she doesn’t really think about it.

Chris Castino is one of those rare musicians who thrives in multiple styles. In his case, the styles are rock and bluegrass. Chris leads Chicken Wire Empire into The Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis this Friday Night at 7:30. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Chris spoke of his journey becoming a pro musician.

Tearra Oso Adapts Traditional Puerto Rican Bomba to modern situations, and to cultural and personal healing. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Tearra talked about how she came to Bomba tradition.

Diane Jarvi’s New CD, This Ordinary Day was done at her home during an early stage of the Covid pandemic. Spending a lot of time alone caused Diane to reflect on things, and it shows on the CD and what she says about it. She spoke with Phil Nusbaum about it.

Vibraphonist Levi Schwartzberg is a mover among the young Jazz players in Minneapolis. He composes and performs in many settings, but is most at home in a free bop setting. Funny thing, though, he came to the vibes almost by accident, as he explained to Phil Nusbaum.

Joy Ann Parker’s tribute show for Patsy Cline is a long term success. The show replays iconic country songs of the 50s and 60s but with Joyann’s special interpretive abilities. And she does it at Crooners, Thursday January 13 at 6:30. Joyann talked with Phil Nusbaum about both Patsy and singing Patsy’s songs.

Noah Strom plays keyboards and Sam Ryan plays the guitar. They form the core of the Noah Strom Trio, performing at Umbra in Minneapolis, 7 till 10 PM this Friday and Saturday night. The group plays old jazz plus some new compositions that sound old. When the two got together with Phil Nusbaum, Noah explained how the group works.

Manny Hill talks with Mageen Caines of the Minneapolis Health Department about the importance of students and their families being tested for Covid-19 with the emergence of the Omicron variant as the students return to school following the winter break.

Vocalist Charmin Michelle and guitarist Joel Shapira have a long standing jazz duet, with occasional forays with larger groups. The duet continues this new year, but they’re solidifying the larger group into the Charmin Shapira All Stars. The Group’s first show is Wednesday January 5 at the Dakota in Minneapolis at 7PM. We’ll hear a little of the duet, and then Charmin and Joel tell Phil Nusbaum a...

The Minnesota Chamber Jazz Orchestra is a scaled-back version of the Minnesota Jazz Orchestra, but with nine pieces, it still produces a big sound. The group plays the Ames Auditorium in Bloomington, 7PM on New Year’ Eve with the theme “An Evening with Ella,” and that is Fitzgerald of course. Phil Nusbaum talked to Craig Thrane and Courtney Burton of the group and first asked Craig, Why a little b...

Hank Thunander of Saint Paul is an accordion player’s accordionist. After about 70 of playing, he knows thousands of songs and tunes and plays solo or with a group, seemingly all the time. Hank is at the center of the early New Year’s party at the Rosetown Legion in St Paul, from 11:30 AM till 4 PM on Dec 31. Hank talked to Phil Nusbaum, and Phil first asked how he constructed a playlist for a typ...

Career vocalist Mick Sterling joins former superbowl football player Ben Utecht for an evening of Christmas songs backed by a 19-piece orchestra at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. The shows are at various times Sunday December 26 through Wednesday December 31. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ben tells how he’s always been interested in both music and athletics.

Singer Maud Hixson loves giving audiences her spins on great old Christmas songs. But she also enjoys singing songs that should be better known. When she talked with Phil Nusbaum, Maud addressed the great spirit everybody seems to share at this season.

Guitarist Zacc Harris curates Monday nights this December at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. Doors open at 6 with music starting at 8PM. Each show is a double bill. So there will be plenty of space not only for bands Zacc plays in, but for groups with contrasting styles. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Zacc Harris talked about his curatorial style.

Ross Sutter researches and performs traditional Swedish songs and tunes. You can catch Ross with Art Bjorngjeld in a craft market setting, Saturday December 4 at 10 and 11:30 AM at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Ross tells of some of the rare songs and tunes he’s come up with.

It must be the holiday season because Cornbread Harris fronts his band at a Blues Party at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis. It’ll be next Thursday, December 2. When Phil Nusbaum visited the Twin Cities’ piano playing blues icon, Cornbread was in the mood to talk about how his songs and shows are put together.

Rondo 56 tells how the Rondo neighborhood in Saint Paul was changed when Interstate 94 was built right through it. Rondo 56 includes music by a combination of T Michael Rampbo, Thomassina Petra, Charmin Michelle and Dan Chouinard. Phil Nusbaum went to a rehearsal of the group and talked to Dan and T Michael. Dan explained how interstate construction was set in motion.

En route to a PhD in creative writing, Brian Laidlaw was struck by the work of French Canadian poet Emile Nelligan. Brian translated the work, and then composed music and recorded it on a CD called The Aster. In a conversation with Phil Nusbaum, Brian told how the project got started.

It was a long wait, but Zeitgeist presents its early music festival featuring the work of Frederick Shefsky this Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 at Studio Z in Saint Paul. Zeitgeist percussionist Heather Barringer spoke with Phil Nusbaum about the production, and about the composer, Frederick Shefsky.

A few years ago, guitarist Pavel Jany received a Minnesota State Arts Board grant to create a new CD and play some concerts. But then came the pandemic. The CD is finally here, and Pavel plays with the World Jazz Collegium sextet Thursday, November 18th, 7:00-9:00 PM at the Granada Theater in Minneapolis. Pavel told Phil Nusbaum, that because of the pandemic, the titles of some of the pieces have...

California based Kiefer joins Justus Sanchez at Jazz88 for an in-studio performance and interview. Kiefer, who gained acclaim for optimistic beat-based jazz, released his latest album "When There's Love Around" in 2021. The new album is a departure from his previous works. He has switched out the beats for a full band. He and his band we're touring this fall and after a stop at the Fine Line on Oc...

Kenne Thomas has a new CD called Yesterdays. The CD release event takes place at the Dakota in Minneapolis, Tuesday November 9 at 7PM. Kenne is a drummer. But his major reference point is the saxophone sound he heard as a kid growing up in Chicago, especially as played by Kenne’s father, James Whitehead. Kenne talked to Phil Nusbaum about the project.

Gypsy, one of Our Town’s most popular groups ever, plays its 50 year anniversary show at Crooners, Saturday November 13 at 7PM. But suddenly, Gypsy has a batch of new songs by band member James Walsh. In a conversation with with Phil Nusbaum, James explained that the songs were an outcome of his Covid experience.

Singer Maryam Yusafzadeh came to the US from Iran over 30 years ago. Maryam’s interest in singing about immigrants started around the time of Nine-Eleven. Over time, events made her feel more strongly about it. Her CD is called Migration, and Maryam talked to Phil Nusbaum it.